Rafah reopening draws long lines as delays limit medical evacuations and returns
The Rafah crossing reopened after weeks of talks, but bureaucratic delays and tight vetting meant only a handful of patients and returnees crossed on the first full day.
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By Torontoer Staff
Palestinians stood in long lines on both sides of the Rafah crossing on Tuesday as officials tried to resume movement after the border reopened the previous day. The initial flow fell far short of expectations, with only small groups of medical evacuees and returnees able to cross.
The limited numbers exposed logistical, security and diplomatic hurdles that will determine whether the checkpoint can meet the urgent medical needs in Gaza and permit more residents to return home.
Slow start and bureaucratic snags
Officials initially said 50 people would move in each direction, but the first day saw roughly a dozen returnees and a similarly small number of medical evacuees cross in each direction, after more than 10 hours of processing. Disagreements over luggage allowances and extensive vetting prolonged the process, and required additional negotiations at the crossing.
They didn’t let us cross with anything. They emptied everything before letting us through. We were only allowed to take the clothes on our backs and one bag per person.
Rotana Al-Regeb, returnee
Egyptian authorities said some of those on the Egyptian side were Palestinians who had been treated in Egyptian hospitals earlier in the war. On the Gaza side, the Palestinian Red Crescent brought patients in buses from its headquarters in Khan Younis, lining up those who need care unavailable inside Gaza.
Medical evacuations: capacity and pace
The World Health Organization and local health agencies have underlined the scale of medical need. Gaza’s Health Ministry estimates roughly 20,000 people require treatment abroad. Since the start of the war, more than 10,000 patients have been evacuated, but the pace slowed dramatically after Israel seized control of the crossing in May 2024.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said 16 patients with chronic conditions and war wounds, accompanied by 40 relatives, were brought from Khan Younis to the Gaza side of Rafah on Tuesday. That was well under the numbers the Red Crescent had been told would be allowed.
Only 16 patients with chronic conditions and war wounds, accompanied by 40 relatives, were brought from Khan Younis to the Gaza side of Rafah.
Raed al-Nims, Palestinian Red Crescent spokesperson
Egyptian health authorities say about 150 hospitals are prepared to receive patients. At an optimistic pace of roughly 50 evacuees per day, many will still face lengthy waits.
Security, vetting and bilateral concerns
Both Egypt and Israel retain security concerns that shape who may cross. Egypt has insisted that the border operate in both directions, and Israeli officials say those who want to leave will eventually be allowed. In practice, each side conducts checks, and those procedures have constrained daily throughput.
Officials said the number of crossings could increase if procedures prove manageable. For now, the reopening is being tested in small batches as authorities try to balance humanitarian need with security protocols.
Human stories and local impact
Families gathered near Red Crescent facilities in Khan Younis to await word of crossings. Iman Rashwan waited hours until her mother and sister, who had been in Egypt for medical care, were allowed back into Gaza. She expressed hope that the crossing would soon serve more people in need of treatment and families trying to reunite.
God willing, the crossing will open for everyone, for all the sick and for all the wounded. Everyone just wants things to return to normal as they were before the war.
Iman Rashwan, waiting relative
The fragile reopening came as Gaza continues to record casualties and daily humanitarian challenges. Local hospitals report ongoing fatalities and injuries linked to operations and clashes across the territory. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported a 19-year-old man shot and killed on Tuesday, part of a continuing toll that health authorities document.
What comes next
The Rafah crossing’s reopening is a step forward for the ceasefire framework, but the first full day revealed operational limits. The success of the corridor will depend on whether authorities can streamline processing, coordinate medical referrals and manage security checks without further delays.
- Initial goal: 50 people crossing in each direction per day
- Actual first full day: roughly a dozen returnees and a small group of medical evacuees each way
- Palestinian Red Crescent moved 16 patients and 40 relatives to Rafah from Khan Younis on Tuesday
- WHO and Egyptian hospitals prepared to receive patients, but pace remains slow
For residents and health authorities in Gaza, the key question is scaling the operation while protecting civilians and meeting urgent care needs. The crossing’s performance over the coming days will show whether it can move beyond symbolic gestures to meaningful relief.
RafahGazaRed Crescentmedical evacuationsceasefire
